March

After this Saturday is over I am awaiting a big sigh of relief. It has been a quiet month. A month where everyone here is waiting to exhale. Peaceful yes, restful hardly. Although my classes seem to be going on as normal. I have actually really enjoyed my time in the classroom. My schedule differs from my former Schedule in Northeast China in that I get to see my students twice a week rather then just once. I feel I get to know them better and a lot faster. I am still working on finding ways where they feel more welcome to come to my place and hang out. In the meantime the basketball court seems to be our common place of interest where we can hang out.

In other news... I am an uncle! Chloe Katherine Halligan was born last week weighing 8 lbs. 3 oz. My brother and sister-in-law are finally back at home (hopefully getting some rest). I got to video skype with them, it is just so unreal seeing my bro with his new daughter. Can't wait to see them.

Students Day One of teaching

Some Student Quotes from intro class hand out:
Some funny, other just revealing some of their interests.

"I like suffering the internet"
(been there)
"I like green colour, doing sports and reading << harry potter >>"
(Britain strikes again)
"I like reading, playing badminton and going rollerblading"
(rollerblading... they know the word rollerblading? A+ for this student)
"I want to learn more knowledge"
(Yes...)
"I want to learn English gramme"
(how about spelling?)
"I like listing Music and soft internet and go out"
(makes sense to me)
"I want to learn how to cook coffee"
(that's a true sign of being my student... grammar's not quite correct but at least they have their priorities strait)

Second Class coming tomorrow.

Teaching Tomorrow

This has been a strange week. The mood been unsure. Yet life moves on as usual. Last night around midnight I heard singing of traditional songs. That was the first time I had heard songs this holiday season. Kinda strange for a New Year.

Tonight I am lesson planning, getting my grade sheets all figured out, and putting on another layer of paint in my living room. It is getting close but painting always take longer then you expect. So my apartment is still a mess but the end is somewhat near... hopefully.

I am excited to see my students and co-teachers. We will see what this semester brings.

Snow and Fire

I made back to Lhasa yesterday after a flyby cancellation and having to spend one more day in Chengdu. The airline put us up for the night and fed us so at least I got some good sleep and full belly out of the deal. But yesterday on our second attempt we made it! I was accompanied by Heidi and the new teacher Bethany so at least we had some company for our day of useless travels. We got in around 2 p.m. and were able to make it for a sticks hot-pot birthday party for Craig. This is basically what is sounds like, the food is on the end of sticks and you put it in a hot-pot. Pretty ingenious really. We were all pretty tired so we called it a early night... until midnight. Then the fireworks started. I was in and out of sleep all night (probably from the altitude not the fireworks) but they seemed to last all night. As I woke up this morning I was pleased to find the ground covered with snow.(as fireworks continued to go off in the distance)

The just says a few things to me:
1. I am back! Vacation is officially over.
2. Losar has begun (Tibetan New Year)
3. And winter is still here... burr.
4. Tibet sure is beautiful

Hope you all are have a good end of February. I will post some of my travel adventures later. I have a Losar party with the teaching staff this morning.

Blessings

Hong Kong!

From culture shock to culture shock. Our next stop was Hong Kong. If anyone has visited this amazing city they know how is unlike any other city it is. We meet up with the Wus and went on a Gondola ride to a big Buddha. The Gondola was amazing and it was fun to meet up with those crazy kids.



We did a little exploring in the city seeing the sites and enjoying the food.


Then later we meet up with the rest of the my former team Siping.... and went to Disneyland!!

Xian

Well part 2 and 3 of trip 2008-2009 are now finished I am currently waiting in a coffee shop in Kunming with some friends who teach in Wuhan. I am drinking some Yunan coffee and just finished my apple pie... with raisins... why not? Anyways, Part 2 of the trip was to Xian. We actually stayed in the Tibetan Minority College outside of Xian in a city called Xianyang. Good news though... they had the terricotta soldiers, only they were much smaller.



Apparently they found these about 10 years before the real soldiers and are actually older. Apparently these were from the dynasty prior to the Qin and were taken over by the Qin.

We did spend a day or two in Xian checking out the Stone Forrest of Steles. The highlight was the Nestorian stone from 635 AD. Later that night we visited the Big Goose Pagoda and checked out the fountain show. A must see in Xian.



From there we were were off to Hong Kong.

The village of Zhen Jia, Qinghai Province

As we bounced around the dirt road I knew I was getting into something I had never experienced before. As we got out of the black Chinese car I got some dust all over my bag and black coat... a bit of foreshadowing of what was to come. Ganzang's town was something out of an ancient travel magazine. The walls of all the houses were made of dried dirt and reminded me of something I read in history class or my Hebrew History class in college. We were met by Ganzang's sister-in-law and escorted into our home for the next week. It was unlike anything I could have imagined...



A week of eating obscene amounts of meat, drinking obscene amounts of Amdo black tea was to follow.



Some of the highlights of the week away from reality were:
1. the amazing Amdo bread awaiting me as I woke up
2. moto crash, sounds more exciting then it actually was.
3. Riding a Yak
4. Visiting the Yak - the outdoor restroom (or hole) was behind the family's yak. So visiting the yak has a whole new meaning
5. Archery - apparently it is all the rage in Qinghai villages.
6. Amazing family - they shared so much with us and really made us feel at home.
7. a change to experience life in a whole new way. - no accessories, but so much I may never see again
8. His beauty, everywhere. The stars never looked so bright, the fields were breathtaking and the mountains powerful

As I type this in the warmth of the apartment of a fellow teaching in Xianyang, just outside Xian I am so greatful for the experience and chance to be a part of our friend's family for a week in Zhen Jia.